Apparatus for converting crude iron into malleable iron or steel



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APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING CRUDE IRON INTO MALLEABLE IRON 0R STEEL.

No. 404.159. Patented May 28, 1889..

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J. W. BOOKWALTER.

APPARATUSFOR GO RTING CRUDE IRON INTO MALLEABLE RON 0R STEEL.

No. 404,159. Patented May 28, 1889.

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APPARATUS FOR CONVERTING CRUDE IRON INTO MALLEABLE lRON 0R STEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent no. 404,159, dated May 28, 1889.

Application filed Tune 13, 1888. Serial No. 276,906. (No model.) Patented in England May 9, 1888, No. 6,951.

To-aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OHN WESLEY BooK- WALTER, engineer, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, Ohio, United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Converting Crude Iron into Malleable Iron or Steel, of which the following is a specification, and on which I have received British Letters Patent, No. 6,951, of May 9, 1888.

This invention relates to improvements in converters of the Bessemer type,and the obj ect thereof is to secure a more complete and regular circulation of the metal contained in the converter, so that the air-blasts may act with greater uniformity upon the metal contained in the bath.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a vertical section of a cylindrical converter, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal elevation thereof partly in section.

The converter A is of ordinary construction, and is mounted on trunnions B in the usual manner, the blasts being admitted through tuyeres O. WVhen the air is admitted in blasts or jets horizontally, or nearly so, at the circumference of the converter, and at or near the surface of the metal, the tendency of the blasts is to produce a circulatory motion, somewhat irregular, throughout the mass of circumference of the converter, or where the metal receives the initial impulse or pressure of the air, and there is a tendency thus to leave a portion of the metal in the center of the mass in a relatively-undisturbed condition. Thus the outward portion of the mass of metal, or that portion which first receives the action of the air entering from the tuyeres, is much more frequently subjected to the oxidizing influences of the atmosphere than that which is contained in the center of the mass, where the circulation and motion is less active. To remedy this defect, I place a core,

D, of fire-clay or other refractory material, in the interior of the converter in such manner that when the latter is charged the core shall occupy the position which would otherwise be occupied by the undisturbed mass of inert metal around which the rest of the metal, as above mentioned, would circulate. This will therefore leave in the converter an annulus of molten metal having throughout a fairlyconstant circulatory motion. The upper side of the core being sunk only a few inches below the surface of the metal in the converter and at about the same level as the orifices of the tuyeres, it follows that when the circulatory motion is established all the metal comes with regularity and certainty to the surface and shares the eifect of the blast, whereby the homogeneity of the charge is insured.

Figs. 3 and 4 show a similar core, D, applied to a pear-shaped converter, and it is obvious that such a core may be applied with suitable modifications to any of the ordinary forms of converters now in general use. a I) represent the normal level of the metal.

I do not limit myself to the use of a solid core or to any manner of fixing the same.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the'same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is- 1. The combination, with a converter, of a core arranged transversely therein and situated about the center of motion of the circulating mass of metal and below the level thereof, substantially as described.

2. The combination, with a converter hav- 8o ing a tuyere arranged to deliver air transversel y to the surface of the metal, of a core arranged transversely within the converter and situated so as to occupy the space which would otherwise be occupied by a comparatively inert mass of metal and below the level of the molten mass, substantially as described.

3. A converter provided with a transverse block, and with tuyeres arranged to inject a blast upon the metal, from one side across 0 said block, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J. W. BOOKWALTER. Witnesses:

ALFRED J. BoUL'r,

WALTER J. SKERTEN. 

